During the 2024 fiscal year, researchers at the University of Notre Dame submitted 1,310 proposals for external research funding for a total amount of $1.016 billion — the first time the University has surpassed the billion-dollar mark for proposals. In addition, the University received 829 separate awards — the largest number on record. With $224 million in total funding, these awards propelled the University past the $200 million mark for the fourth straight year. To support this immense growth, Notre Dame Research is recruiting talented research administration professionals to enhance the team that will steward our research enterprise into its next phase.

Come grow with us!
Notre Dame Research Administration and Compliance (NDRAC) is seeking an Associate Director of Research Training to develop, lead, and direct the research administration and compliance training unit for the University’s research enterprise. Reporting directly to the Director of Research Policy and Training, the Associate Director will collaborate closely with the University’s research and administrative professionals to foster the growth and excellence of Notre Dame’s research endeavors through research-related education and training.

Broadly, the Associate Director provides education and training to the University’s researchers and all University administrators and staff involved in sponsored programs and compliance. In doing so, the Associate Director plays an essential role in ensuring that the University’s research administration and compliance education programs are comprehensive, innovative, and effectively meet the needs of all University researchers, research administration staff, and federal and sponsor requirements.

The Associate Director of Research Training position requires a proactive, strategic approach to research-related education and training management. The Associate Director is charged with fostering a learning culture while engaging University stakeholders in strategic planning, goal-setting, and the design, implementation, and administration of a comprehensive research administration and compliance education curriculum. The Associate Director oversees the implementation of educational goals and objectives through planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating education and training programs and courses. Oversight includes managing the work of assorted internal and external training and development professionals, including experts in instructional design and development, and course instruction. Working with the Director of Research Policy and Training, the Associate Director is responsible for continually assessing changes in the regulatory environment that drive evolving needs and effectiveness of the programs and courses.

At the outset, and as an essential step in promoting a culture of learning, the Associate Director strategically aligns the University’s research administration and compliance education and training with the University’s overall strategic direction and plan for the research enterprise. The Associate Director engages key stakeholders in clarifying their requirements and expectations for researchers and research-related professionals necessary to fulfill the University’s strategic plan, translating these behaviors into the University’s strategic outcomes and learning goals. Identifying any potential skills gaps, the Associate Director determines research administration and compliance education learning goals and plans specific learning experiences to achieve these goals and enhance operations. Ultimately, the Associate Director manages the research training unit in delivering learning experiences, and then tracking, monitoring, and evaluating employee performance in light of the University’s strategic plan.

Intuitively, the Associate Director strongly emphasizes collaboration and continuous improvement in executing the role. To ensure that the research education and training curriculum is comprehensive, current, and accessible, the Associate Director collaborates with multiple departments, subject matter experts (SMEs), and leaders at all levels throughout the University. The Associate Director works collaboratively and continuously with these diverse groups to create a learning environment that is service-oriented, supportive, engaging, and effective for all participants.

Employing participant-focused strategies and practices, the Associate Director develops, coordinates, and manages education and training programs and events that vary widely in nature, focus, and size. In each case, the Associate Director leads program- and event-related activities and communications as necessary to develop and plan event specifications such as scope, format, budget, administrative details, and special requirements. The Associate Director leads and/or participates in planning and organizing the programs and events, managing planning and design committees, determining topics, booking instructors/speakers, working with venues, conducting marketing, outreach, and web development, inviting participants, managing registration, executing the programs and events, and managing follow-up. Throughout the program and event planning and design process, the Associate Director communicates directly with all stakeholders to learn requirements and goals, coordinates attendee lists, and ensures all participants understand relevant information and details.

In conjunction with the NDRAC stakeholders, the Associate Director identifies the competencies necessary for the various research and research-related professional roles. These competencies provide a basis for all research education and training activities. And will allow the University to pursue a system of education, testing, monitoring, and review as part of a campus certification program in research administration, if desired.

Applying a comprehensive understanding of the position-related competencies and requirements, the Associate Director ensures the educational content for researchers, research administration staff, and others involved in research is current and meets the needs of the participants to successfully fulfill their research and regulatory responsibilities. Evaluation and assessments conducted by the Associate Director include analyzing trends and best practices in support of the overall curriculum. This position collects and analyzes data that opens the door for continuous improvements of the research education and training program offerings and certifications that directly align with the articulated and defined research administration and compliance competencies.

As a partner, the Associate Director works with internal and external SMEs regarding technology-based learning management tools and research learning projects from conception, through design and production, to completion. In each case, the Associate Director evaluates a technology with an emphasis on designing and using the appropriate technology for the situation, whether pursuing administrative or pedagogical goals. The Associate Director leads and/or assists with change management strategies and in developing effective implementation and education and training plans. The Associate Director will manage all aspects of NDRAC’s external learning management systems which is used for all federally mandated training requirements.

Requirements:
The ideal candidate for Associate Director of Research Training demonstrates a substantive, robust background in research-related technical training and development, including research administration and regulated compliance training. This individual has notable, repeated successes in developing and implementing programs for diverse audiences across multiple research disciplines and faculty levels, including research administration and regulated compliance training.

The Associate Director manages the development and implementation of research and compliance education and training programs to support and enhance the knowledge and skills of all research and research-related employees; manages research education and compliance education and training sessions; serves as a point of contact to new employees and supervises training unit staff and other training professionals.

Qualifications:

Well-qualified applicants will have the following preferred experience. Experience in and exposure to research in a higher education environment is beneficial. Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, provided the minimum degree requirement is met.

General office hours.

This is a hybrid position based in South Bend, Indiana.